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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – This Saturday marks the start of a significant religious event for Catholics in Springfield.

For 9 days, St. Anthony Maronite Catholic Church will be home to the deeply revered relic of St. Anthony of Padua.

This will be the first time the relic, which contains a bone from Saint Anthony’s body, will be away from Padua, Italy for this long.

Deacon Enzo DiGiacomo believes it will attract the faithful from far away.

DiGiacomo told 22News, “This is one of the most formidable holy things that I have ever been part of, to be able to bring St. Anthony to an entire Catholic community not only of Massachusetts, Springfield, but of New England.”

The relic of St. Anthony of Padua will first be brought to St. Michael’s Cathedral Saturday morning. Then there will be a procession to St. Anthony’s where visitors will be able to see the relic for the next 9 days.